OUR PRESSING GUIDE

Welcome to our comprehensive recommendations for sublimation, DTF (Direct-to-Film), and vinyl pressing techniques. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, this page will provide valuable recommendations and tips to achieve high-quality results with your projects.

Read on to explore the world of pressing sublimation, DTF, and vinyl transfers!

Pressing Equipment Recommendations

  • Use a commercial-style heat press (or Cricut Easypress or Autopress) with a pressing surface larger than the design.
    *use a thermal temperature gun to check platen temperature

  • If concerned your items may shift during pressing, apply Heat Resistant Tape to secure your transfer.
    *highly recommended for sublimation transfers

DTF Transfers

Below are our recommendations for pressing DTF transfers with a heat press:

  • Temperature: 280-305 degrees
  • Before pressing, we use a lint roller over your image area to remove tiny dust particles and hair
  • If you want, prepress your product for 3-7 seconds to remove wrinkles and moisture. Allow area to completely cool before moving to the next step
  • Place the transfer down on your product
  • Use medium pressure
  • Press time: 10-14 seconds
  • Cold peel
  • Press again with the Teflon sheet covering the transfer for another 8-10 seconds (using parchment paper might press wrinkles in the image. We don't recommend parchment paper.)


For kooizes/can coolers: We press ours at 300 degrees.

Have more questions about DTF? Check out our FAQ page.

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Sublimation Transfers

We suggest you press your sublimation transfers at your go-to temperature. 

Some products/blanks will require different time, temperature, and pressure combinations. If you need more clarification, please check with your supplier to get the settings for the blanks you're using.

  • Different color products might discolor as well when pressing due to high temperatures.

     **We highly do not recommend pressing sublimation transfers with an iron as it will not apply properly.**

    Below are our recommendations for pressing our sublimation transfers on a high polyester count t-shirt:
  • Temperature for pressing: 380-400 degrees, pending your machine
  • Place a piece of parchment paper inside the shirt or other fabric-type products before pressing (keeps the ink from bleeding through)
  • Before pressing, use a lint roller over your image area to remove tiny dust particles and hair
  • Place the transfer face down on your product (**We recommend using heat transfer tape to tape the transfer to your product)
  • Cover transfer with a piece of parchment paper so that the ink doesn't bleed onto your heat press
  • Apply Firm pressure
  • Press time: 40-60 seconds, pending your machine
  • Only press the transfer once


The racing shirt example was pressed using a Cricut Easypress 2 at 380 degrees for 60 seconds.

Check out our FAQ page regarding what type of material work best for sublimation transfers

Shop Sublimation Transfers

Disclaimer for all Transfers:

Heat Press Design Co. is not responsible for any transfers that are pressed incorrectly.